The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-04-16

| IL
call them blessed, and their very names are often
forgotten before the grass has grown over theii
graves. Others there are whose lives are so selfish
and corrupt that tits positive relief community
when they are gone.
But Or. Shower was a man of another stamp and
fanother character. He was most noble aud Bener'
Gus in his disposition. and utterly unselsh IN his
aims and purposes He lived more for Others than
| for himself The motto of his life was not scliag-
grandizement but selfsaeritice. And by his KIDD
ness of heart his generous disposition his cheerful
service. he had well-nigh rendered himself fndis-
| pensable to a large circle of friends and acquain-
tances who to-day shed honest tears his grave.
In the practice of his profession DR.. Shower was
scrupulo1sly conscientious and utterly forgetfu Of
himself and of his own interest. He was never re-
gardless of the call of duty. Day or night rain or
sunshine. heat or cold made no difference. He was
ready at all hours and in all circumstances to render
his professional services to those who Were in need
nuenced his conduct He never refused his services
because he expected no pay; and he served The
poor as carefully and as conscientousy as the rich.
OF whose fee he sure. And the poor of this com
munity and neighborhood owe Or. Shower very
DR.. Shower frequently showed the largeness of his
heart also by his devotion to the general interests of
the community. AS citizen he was man Of large
public spirit always working for the prosperity of
his native town. and sincerely rejoicing in the well
| fare of his neighbors. There was never a public
movement or enterprise with which he was noteon-
| nected. He was not one Of those men who are will
ling to share the benefits but refuse to share the
burdens OF those enterprises upon which depend the
| prosperity and happiness of communities. What
ever faults our departed brother may have had-and
there is no man who has not his fautsthis at least
man of large and generous heart, sincerely and
selishly devoted to his friends, and desiring and
| laboring for the prosperity of all.
And Dr. Shower 1t affords us pleasur, to say, was
not wholly unappreciated by this community; on
ehe con1Iy nus steiling qqAiues as man a physl,
acknowledged by his neighbors 1t IL said some
times that the world is hard, and cold and migrate
full and that its benefactors are not appreciated
There is, of course much reason for this complaint
Ihereare many people who are not thankful for the
avors which they receive ofmen; as there are many
who are not thankful for the blessings of God. But
there ave times too when the innate nobility of hui
man nature appears to better advantage and when
men will show that they can and do appreciate
goodness, and Kindness and nobleness In Others
general sympathy of this community at this time
We have never known any community to be so gen.
orally moved as this has been during the last week
During the long weary days Of waiting and anxiety
that preceded the dreaded event, all were anxious
and there were many tender expressions OF the deep
concern which the citizens of this place felt for their
dying neighbor. Even little children had caught
the general tone of feeling. and on their way TO
school would stop about the door and ask those
coming from the house of sickness, If "the Doctor
was not getting better" And the final issue has east
mournfql contrast with the joyful spirit belonging to
this festive season-and to- day all feel though
we had been hereft ola personal friend. This gen.
eral sympathy, which we are sure is felt BY every
one in this large congregation, is noble tribute TO
the life and memory of a good man.
But Dr. Shower was more than simply good and
generous man he was sincere Christian-an hum
BILE Christian believer and an earnest faithful mem
Der of the Christian Church. He was ever ready
with his means and with his labor to advance the
interests of the Church and to promote the of
Christ For the last ten years. at least no work of
any kind was undertaken by this congregation in
which he did not take an active part And the
days and has been almost constantly in the sneak
ers mind as to who shall take his place. Who will
wear the mantle that has fallen from his shoulders?
May the Lord raise up many others who shall be
equally sincere and earnest in the service OF their
Master and who shall fill the vacant place in this
portunity of divine worship He was always when
not professionally engaged in his place in the church,
the SUNDAY school and the prayermeeting; And no
would generally SO time his professional engage
ments that they would least interfere with his re-
ligous duties. II he was required TO make profess
sional calls on Sunday morning, he would start
before daylight If were necessary inorder hathe
might be back in time for church. good example
surely to the brethren Of his professionI
And there is precious comfort in the recollection
of all this for his stricken family and sorrowing
friends. How much more comfort to stand at the
coffin and grave of pious Christian than of one
who is not Christian The death of the righteous
we are told, is precious in the sight Of the Lord
in his death. This we are sure, was the case with
our departed friend. When he came to walk
through the valley of the shadow of DEATH he knew
that he was not forsaken ana alone, but that tho
arms of his Saviour were around HIM, and that tho
hand Of the Almighty would sustain him. And,
though, llkeSt Paul desiring still to live for the
sake of his family and friends, he was willing also
to depart and be with the Lord Death had no ter
TO our feeble Judgment, indeed, II would seem
that he should have been LEFT TO us while longer.
He was only in the primo of life-that period when
ordinarily the mind is in its best condition and the
body still free from the infirmties of age. Had he
been spared he could have done still much good,
There was still much work for him to do Some
work he had undertaken for the benefit of the Sun
day School, dropt unfinished from his hands; and
the Sunday before his DEATH when he heard the bell
ring, he observed how disappointed the children
he was making for them Why was IL NOT the will
of Providence that he should be spared to us while
longer, that he might have done still more Of that
good work of which there is so much to dof To
this question we can only reply in the language Of
the text: my thoughts are not your thoughts, and
my ways are not your ways"
For as Christian believers we are bound to assume
that the event. which during the dlt week we 50
earnestly prayed might not harper iias not %
not come by chance. II is a dspensaiionaf divine
providence that is designed to do US all good, al
though we cannot understand 1t now. We are as
sured that not hair can fall from our heads, and
that not sparrow can fall to the ground, without
the will of our Father in heaven; and how much
less then could a soul pass from time to et,Tnity
without the concurrence of that same will? We
are not bound indeed to assume an efficient divine
agency in all that takes place in this world, and
therefore also in every death that occurs, by what
ever cause aus It may be produced; This would be ia
in the world, man may take his own life or the
life Of another or man may need essly expose him
In such case we could not say that It is God that has
done this, or even willed it. And yet even such
occurrences not trihom His will and uiiAoh His
permission; and He will know even how to direct
such occurrences to good end, and axe them min
lister TO the salvation of His children; for His
thoughts and ways are higher than ours,
In view OF this truth then, II becomes us humbly
to submit to the denomination Of Providence, and
meekly to say 10 God, Thy will be done. God
could have preserYed to You your brother and friend
II had been His will to do so. He could have re-
human skill. Jesus healed the sick when no other
physician could heal them, and He even raised tho
dead and brought them back to life again Certain
ly He could have reached the same end here too.
and He could have done this without miracle
or at least without interfering with ordinary
oD Chosen Of 10 a laws a M wa su s h
and 70 the decision of that will we must bow in
humble faith now, waiting for eternity TO disclose
The cause and reason Of Gods dealing with here
But while we are not able now TO understand the
reason Of What he does there arc two tI1gs Of
which we may be perfectly sure even here and
these are first, that Gods designs towards US are
plish the good which lie designs Gods purpose or
intentions In reference to us are good. He intends
no evil hut only good: God is our Elther mere
III an absolute sovereign ruler, dispDsipg Of our
life and fortune without feeling or Sympathy-bnt
S Snd f Tea sense T ne pr s u @ 8ee
gard to us is not merely govern mental but paternal
nInes 50 God iov ny IN at eai is love His s
preme dezFe or will, therefore, is that should be
happy here and bessed in eternity and to this end
are directed all His counsels and His acts,
If nevertheless the conduct of His providence
sometimes present to our lips hitter cup we are
then bound to believe that that will minister most
to our good. We may not understand the design of
it, Just as child may not understand the gentle
discipline o. parent. A child may sometimes con,
slider the discipline of a parent TO be harsh and
cruel hut when he shall have ceased to be child.
he will think better of 1t. So in regard 10 the
discipline of our heavenly Father There Is Indeed
a complete analogy between an earthly parent and
the Heavenly; but there is this difference: that tho
earthly is imperfect and shortsighted and therefore
liable 70 error, which the Heavenly is omniseient
and can not make any mistakes. God is too wise 10
err. He never fails 10 do the right thing TO promote
our highest and best interest.
What eonfuges US sometimes and loads US 10
question the wisdom and goodness of God. is the
fact that He consults not merely for happiness
and comfort in this world. but much more for our
hlessedness in the woEld to come. We are most in
terested in the present moment, and most CONCERN
ed for present comfort In this respect we arc
always like children, whom the plaything of tho
hour fascinates more than the idea Of any futare
good. For amomentary qualification the childwoud
sacrifice future fortune So We think more Of our
present case and comfort than of future bessedness
and glory; and II God sometimes nterferes with the
enjoyment Of the present with view to greater en-
joymept IN the future, We do not understand His
purpose and are disposed TO murmur. Now GOD
cares indeed, for our present comfort, and has NO
desire to US otherwise than happy; but He cares
much more for our salvation and eternal blessed
ness. And perhaps in order to the latter. IL
may be necessary for Him at times to deny some
thing of the former He may afiet nov in order
that He may comfort the moro hereafter. He may
separate friends here in order that they may be
eternally united in heaven.
kiss, then, soFrowfng friends the rod that smitelh
Learn TO say with perfect resignation, Thy will BIO
DONE You are now. indeed. walking in dark
and dreary way, but the word of God Is q lamp 10
your feet and a guide to Duth, and If will